Chapter 163: The Selection of the Holy Son, Reactions from All Sides 【4,000 Words, Monthly Vote Request】

Chapter 163: Saint Candidate, Reactions from All Sides 【Four Thousand Characters, Seeking Monthly Votes】

“Are you looking for me?”

Jiang Li stretched his Wind and Thunder Wings, standing quietly behind Xuan Tianji, two meters off the ground, precisely half a body length taller than him. His deep pupils held a tranquil, ethereal glow, but the words he spoke rumbled like thunder.

Xuan Tianji was startled.

Almost instinctively, he moved, his body dissipating like starlight on the spot. A gray star high above cast a ray of starlight a thousand meters away. At the convergence of the starlight, Xuan Tianji’s figure reassembled, his Face no longer bearing the composure he had moments before.

“Still resisting? Just now, out of respect for the Sect Leader, I didn’t attack you, but next time it might be different.”

Jiang Li did not stop him, merely stating calmly.

As the Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery’s only Personal Disciple, Jiang Li had to give him that Face; otherwise, he could have just slammed him down and rubbed his head on the ground.

To be honest, after mastering the new movement technique, the Nine Heavens Wind and Thunder Void Escape Secret Canon, and forming his Wind and Thunder Wings, dealing with Xuan Tianji was much easier for him than dealing with others, because speed was his strongest method at the moment.

With a spread of his Wind and Thunder Wings, he could cover a five-hundred-li radius with a single spatial leap. He could circle the entire Star Peak over twenty times in one second, let alone just the Peak of the Star Peak. If he wished, every spatial node here could bear the trace of his magical power, because these were all positions he had moved through within a second.

Even if Xuan Tianji’s Great Evolution Star Technique was pushed to its smoking limit, he would not be able to discern Jiang Li’s movement trajectory.

After all.

This was extreme speed beyond the Soul Transformation Realm.

No matter how divine Xuan Tianji was, he could not possibly perceive Soul Transformation Realm-level speed with his Peak Golden Core Realm Cultivation.

Does he really think he’s a cheat like me? Jiang Li thought to himself.

Xuan Tianji did not speak.

He simply unleashed his power, drawing the stars from the sky to form stellar gravity, condensing it into a black dot in his palm, which he cast above the Star Peak.

Immediately.

The Star Peak trembled violently, creating a large-scale, powerful gravitational tide. A strong suction force, like a black hole, swallowed everything below. Large sections of the mountain shattered, pulled by the black dot high in the sky, and were violently sucked upwards.

Jiang Li could clearly feel a huge pressure acting on him. The surrounding directions began to become chaotic, his movement technique and footwork lost balance in this area, making it difficult to maintain equilibrium, as if he had fallen into an invisible, turbulent sea, at the mercy of its waves.

But unfortunately… the new movement technique was spatial leaping, not simple flight.

The pair of Wind and Thunder Wings behind Jiang Li, solid as substance, slightly unfurled. The Nine Heavens Gale swirling around his left wing let out a low wail, and the electric arcs jumped from the lightning plasma on his right wing.

As his wings vibrated, the space in front of him silently smoothed and folded, enveloping Jiang Li’s body into a virtual state. Billions of starlight were stretched into slender threads of light, rapidly streaming past his sides. The sense of time became viscous and chaotic at this moment; only Jiang Li, flapping his wings, remained the sole color within it.

In the next instant.

Space trembled slightly, rippling outwards. Jiang Li’s figure traversed over a thousand meters of space, appearing behind Xuan Tianji, and fiercely swept out with a whip kick.

Bang!

Xuan Tianji had no time to react before his body was violently smashed into the Star Peak. The immense force contained within made his throat sweet, blood spilling out, and his Face turned pale.

He pulled his body out and looked up. Jiang Li stood steadily before him, his expression as if to say: This is the gap between you and me.

His lips twisted bitterly, knowing he had lost.

Completely crushed, without any chance.

“You won. I am not as good as you.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the scene immediately erupted.

He won.

Jiang Li won.

In one day, he fought four Holy Son Candidates in a row, achieving an astonishing record of four consecutive victories, each time crushing his opponent. From knocking out Thunder Mountain with three punches, to breaking Qin Wudao’s myriad techniques with one sword, and finally swiftly overpowering Xuan Tianji, he displayed astonishing strength in Physical Body, Swordsmanship, and speed, surpassing the Golden Core Realm, and even the Nascent Soul Stage.

Under such a crushing record, even the most critical and unfair referee could not utter a single word in defense of the defeated side.

At this moment.

Jiang Li was truly the choice of the masses.

He was the sole victor who, witnessed by all Disciples, Elders, and Peak Masters of the Tianxuan Holy Land, honorably defeated all Holy Son Candidates and claimed victory in the Saint competition.

He was also the most perfect Saint candidate in everyone’s eyes.

“Invincible Jiang!”

Again, the same tumultuous cheers rose and fell.

The news spread like wildfire.

Within a short time, it had spread throughout the entire Holy Land.

Everyone knew that Jiang Li would be the new Saint candidate for the Tianxuan Holy Land, a Golden Core Realm Cultivator who defeated Nascent Soul Stage Holy Son Candidates, flawless in all aspects, the strongest Saint in history, perfectly matching their imagination.

For a time.

The entire Tianxuan Holy Land was immersed in cheers for Jiang Li… Dao Law Peak.

After a short period of recuperation, Qin Wudao, who had re-stabilized his Nascent Soul Realm, opened his eyes. His gaze, however, kept drifting towards the Star Peak. He thought to himself: Jiang Li and Xuan Tianji should have already engaged in battle. If Jiang Li has no other means, he is most likely already in a prolonged battle, and then he will find that the longer the battle lasts, the more powerless he becomes, unable to even touch Xuan Tianji throughout.

This was a lifelong pain for him.

In front of Xuan Tianji, his proud ‘control of myriad techniques’ couldn’t even touch the opponent. No matter what form of attack, Xuan Tianji could take corresponding measures before he even unleashed it, making him doubt his life.

Don’t misunderstand, he had said before his battle with Jiang Li that Xuan Tianji was not his opponent, but when he truly thought about facing him, he still had little confidence.

Although the lightning sword light was fast, it had not reached the point where it could injure Xuan Tianji.

Just as he was thinking.

A Disciple from Dao Law Peak brought back news.

“Invincible Jiang won. Xuan Tianji personally admitted that he was not as good as Jiang Li.”

“What!”

Qin Wudao’s heart was startled.

That pretentious guy actually admitted he was inferior to someone else? How long had the battle just begun? At most, it hadn’t exceeded the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Even battles between True Disciples wouldn’t end so quickly, let alone a personal surrender. This only happens when the gap in strength is significant.

A Peak Golden Core Realm Xuan Tianji, compared to a Middle Stage Golden Core Realm Jiang Li, has a huge gap? This is a hellish joke.

“What exactly happened? Tell me in detail.”

Qin Wudao was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Soon.

After understanding the battle, Qin Wudao fell into even greater self-doubt. The Heaven Sword Peak Chief’s strongest ability wasn’t his Physical Body, which was above the Middle Stage Nascent Soul, nor his Golden Core phenomenon that could forbid myriad techniques, nor the Fusion of elemental sword lights, but his movement technique?

In other words, from beginning to end, Jiang Li had not used his full strength to fight him.

Damn.

This was too demoralizing.

He, a Holy Son Candidate who had broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage, couldn’t even make a Middle Stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator use his full strength.

How could such a monster exist in this world?

Qin Wudao screamed inwardly, realizing for the first time what “Invincible Golden Core” truly meant… Heavenly Strength Peak.

Thunder Mountain slowly regained consciousness.

His thoughts still lingered on the challenge stage, and he instinctively raised his arm to defend. It wasn’t until an Elder explained the situation that he realized he had lost, and lost terribly, being knocked out with three punches, losing all his dignity.

“No, it’s impossible. How can a Middle Stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator be so strong?”

Thunder Mountain simply refused to believe the fact that he had lost so badly.

He muttered incoherently.

“By the way, after me, who did he challenge next? His Golden Core phenomenon has already been exposed and cannot threaten Qin Wudao. In front of him, he’s a living target. If he challenged Xuan Tianji, it would be even worse; he wouldn’t even be able to touch him and would surely suffer a shattered Dao Heart. Did he fail the challenge and leave dejectedly?”

Thunder Mountain, as if grasping at a last straw, eagerly asked.

However… the Elder shook his head, unable to bear saying: “He broke myriad techniques with one sword, defeating Qin Wudao; his speed surpassed Soul Transformation, defeating Xuan Tianji. He is already a sure-fire Saint candidate. As long as he passes the Saint assessment, it won’t be long before his Saint ceremony.”

“Thunder Mountain, give up your unrealistic thoughts. The Heaven Sword Peak Chief is a Genius comparable to a Dao Child. It’s normal for you to lose to him. There’s no need to belittle yourself. Besides those few Prodigies, your strength is not bad at the Holy Son Candidate level. There’s no need to compare yourself to Jiang Li.”

Upon hearing that Jiang Li had become the designated Saint candidate, Thunder Mountain’s head buzzed. He could no longer hear what the Elder was saying. Overcome with anger, he spurted a mouthful of blood into the air and collapsed again.

When he woke up for the second time.

He had already been moved to the lounge.

Outside the Tianxuan Holy Land, there was widespread discussion about Jiang Li, either with admiration, worship, or cheers.

His eyes were bloodshot with fury.

Why was a murderer who killed his brother rising higher and higher, even surpassing him? This was unfair. He had painstakingly built his Foundation for this position, enduring unimaginable hardships and efforts, yet in the end, he couldn’t compare to a rising star. This world was too unfair.

Why could a Genius repeatedly break precedents?

“Have you thought it through?”

At this moment.

Hai Wuhai’s figure appeared in the lounge. His appearance was still as decadent and unkempt, but his pupils, hidden by his sideburns, grew increasingly desolate.

“I’ve thought it through. All Geniuses should die, and those more talented than me should die even more. If I cannot become the Saint and take charge of the Tianxuan Holy Land, then what use is this place to me? It would be better to destroy it and make it my Dao Foundation.”

Thunder Mountain murmured, a look of madness gradually appearing in his eyes.

The dark green lightning surging around him completely turned dark black… At the same time.

Star Peak.

The moment Xuan Tianji chose to concede, the Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery’s figure also appeared abruptly.

He first glanced at Jiang Li, his admiration and praise as always, unchanged by Xuan Tianji’s situation. He smiled warmly: “Congratulations, Jiang Li. From today onwards, you are the sole Holy Son Candidate. When you are ready, I will personally initiate the Saint assessment for you. Pass the assessment, and you will be the new Saint of the Tianxuan Holy Land.”

Upon hearing this, a flicker of excitement also flashed in Jiang Li’s eyes.

The position of Saint, he was already within reach.

He only needed to pass the final hurdle, and he would be the future master of this immortal sect, guaranteed to become a supreme expert in the Human Realm, with his future achievements at least reaching the Peak Void Refining Realm.

“Sect Leader, I hope the assessment can officially begin in three days.”

Jiang Li said earnestly.

He was currently in his Peak state, ready for the Saint assessment at any time. However, to ensure everything went smoothly, he decided to adjust for three days, also giving the Tianxuan Holy Land time to prepare.

“Alright. If it’s you, I believe you can pass.”

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery nodded slightly.

His words astonished all the Disciples, Elders, and even Peak Masters present. Was this an affirmation that Jiang Li could pass the Saint assessment?

Even as Peak Masters, they were unaware of the details of the Saint assessment. They only knew that the assessment was not simply about strength or talent, and it also carried certain risks. Otherwise, the previous Holy Son Candidate, Hai Wuhai, would not have returned without success and become the dejected figure he was now.

And now.

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery had spoken such a clearly directional statement to Jiang Li, indicating that the Tianxuan Holy Land was about to welcome a new Saint and embark on a new chapter for the Holy Land.

Their hearts all trembled.

They thought to themselves: It seems we can start preparing the congratulatory gifts needed for the Saint ceremony in advance. However, this Heaven Sword Peak Chief doesn’t seem to lack anything. The only thing they could think of was Tiansha Qi. Besides fire-attribute Tiansha Qi, lightning-attribute Tiansha Qi was also something he needed.

Jiang Li had no idea that these Peak Masters were already preparing congratulatory gifts for his Saint ceremony in advance. He only knew that he had to make a quick escape now, or he wouldn’t be able to later.

“Farewell.”

Jiang Li cupped his hands.

With the enhancement of his Wind and Thunder Wings, his figure leaped through space, instantly traversing more than half of the Holy Land to return to the Human Emperor Palace on Tianjian Peak.

The other Soul Transformation Peak Masters couldn’t help but exclaim: With such speed, most of them wouldn’t be able to catch up, would they? They wondered what the Dao Sect would think when they found out their Wind and Thunder Shuttle Universe movement technique Secret Manual had been improved by Jiang Li and elevated to a new height.

It wasn’t until everyone had left that Xuan Tianji finally couldn’t help but say: “Teacher, how can there be such an incredible person in this world? His Physical Body, the lightning techniques he uses, his Swordsmanship level, and even the Wind and Thunder Wings and potential Divine Sense he displayed in this challenge have all far exceeded the limits of a Golden Core Realm Cultivator. Such strength is not even possessed by the two from the Dao Sect and Sword Sect.”

“But… the Dao Child and Sword Child are the painstaking efforts cultivated by the two great immortal sects with all their might, while Jiang Li is just the Heaven Sword Peak Chief. He cannot compare to them in terms of resources or lineage. Why does he possess such strength?”

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

“I don’t know either. Perhaps there truly are people destined to be born in times of tribulation in this world. His existence is destined to reach the pinnacle of the world. If you wish to reach a higher level and break through beyond the Dao Fusion Realm, then you should interact with him more.”

Xuan Tianji’s heart trembled violently.

His Teacher’s evaluation of this Jiang Li was so high. The underlying meaning of ‘interact more’ was to follow him?

Was this an indication that Jiang Li’s future achievements would far exceed the limits of the Tianxuan Holy Land, and only by following him would there be a possibility of reaching the Peak in the future?

“Teacher, are you that optimistic about him?”

“He is no ordinary being; he will soar through the Nine Heavens sooner or later. Now, the latent Dragon is in the abyss, already showing signs of taking flight.”

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery said so.